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Nasa spacecraft has Mars landing ‘InSight’ – an annotated infographic

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Nasa’s robotic Mars lander, InSight, will study the interior structure of the Red Planet to answer questions about the early formation of the inner planets – Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars – 4.5 billion years ago. InSight (aka Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport) is the first mission ever dedicated to the Red Planet’s deep interior and will use its trio of instruments to enable scientists to understand how different its crust, mantle and core are from their counterparts on Earth. InSight’s Rotation and Interior Structure Experiment, RISE, uses the same technology that a smartphone uses to … Continue reading Nasa spacecraft has Mars landing ‘InSight’ – an annotated infographic

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First bike path made from recycled plastic – end of the road for asphalt and concrete? An annotated infographic

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An experimental bicycle track made from recycled plastic has opened in the Netherlands as part of a project that could lead to more sustainable roads being rolled out across the country. The 30m test track in the town of Zwolle is made from 70 per cent recycled plastic and the rest from polypropylene, according to an article by The Economist. It will be used to test a product called PlasticRoad, which is being developed by Dutch firms KWS and Wavin, in partnership with French energy giant Total. A second pilot cycleway is being built in the nearby town of Giethoorn. … Continue reading First bike path made from recycled plastic – end of the road for asphalt and concrete? An annotated infographic

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Now, that’s what I call high-speed internet: the 5G network coming soon – an annotated infographic

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With the first 5G-ready smartphones expected to be released in 2019, mobile phone operators are gearing up to test the new super-fast network. Super-fast mobile streaming could start to appear in some regions as early as next year. Network providers around the world are preparing to test 5G networks throughout 2018, with the first 5G-ready smartphones expected to appear in 2019. If successful 5G will supply broadband-equivalent download speeds over mobile networks. That would put an end to lengthy waiting periods for videos to buffer and web pages to load, and make it easier for future technology to evolve like … Continue reading Now, that’s what I call high-speed internet: the 5G network coming soon – an annotated infographic

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Farnborough Airshow preview – real-life Iron Man Jet Suit; Boeing vs Airbus – two annotated infographics #FIA18

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At the forthcoming Farnborough International Airshow, British inventor and entrepreneur Richard Browning and his team from Gravity Industries will be giving an aerial demonstration of the Gravity Jet Suit. The $250,000 Gravity Jet Suit has more horse power than a Formula 1 car. Small jet engines mounted on each arm and behind the suit’s back can produce 144kg of thrust to achieve vertical take-off and flight. Using his body as the airframe, Richard’s arms control speed, thrust and direction. Former Royal Marine Reservist Richard Browning founded Gravity Industries in April 2017. Since then the company has grown rapidly and he … Continue reading Farnborough Airshow preview – real-life Iron Man Jet Suit; Boeing vs Airbus – two annotated infographics #FIA18

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Longest lunar eclipse this century coming up in late July – an annotated infographic

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The longest total lunar eclipse of the 21st century – lasting one hour and 43 minutes – will be visible across wide swathes of the world, including Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, South America and the Middle East. The total phase of the Earth’s natural satellite will turn a spectacular red or ruddy-brown color. From start to finish, the entire celestial event will last nearly four hours. This lunar eclipse will be particularly long because the moon will be at its apogee – the furthest point from the earth – causing the moon to move slower, so the eclipse lasts longer. … Continue reading Longest lunar eclipse this century coming up in late July – an annotated infographic

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The foldable Samsung Galaxy X – coming soon-ish – an annotated infographic

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Samsung has begun mass production of the world’s first foldable smartphone: the Galaxy X. The device will open up to show two internal screens butted close together, forming a tablet-sized computer. The idea of a foldable smartphone has been rumoured for some time and a series of leaks emerging from Asia has fuelled internet speculation about the much-delayed project. The Galaxy X is tipped to be unveiled at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, in February 2019. Click on the graphic for an expanded view. Continue reading The foldable Samsung Galaxy X – coming soon-ish – an annotated infographic

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Volcanic heat source found beneath Antarctic glacier – an annotated infographic

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While analysing Antarctic water samples, scientists have discovered a substantial volcanic heat source beneath Pine Island Glacier. Elevated levels of helium-3 gas detected in the waters around Pine Island glacier indicate volcanic activity beneath the ice sheet – exhibiting as much as 25 times more thermal energy than a dormant volcano. The volcanic heat source is one more factor to account for when modelling the stability of the West Antarctic Ice Shelf. The shelf’s stability has serious implications for the future of sea level rising. Click on the graphic for an expanded view. Continue reading Volcanic heat source found beneath Antarctic glacier – an annotated infographic

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India on brink of worst-ever water crisis – an annotated infographic

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India is suffering from the worst water crisis in its history, with 600 million people facing acute water shortage, a government think-tank says. The crisis is only going to get worse. By 2030, the country’s water demand is projected to be twice the available supply, implying severe water scarcity for hundreds of millions of people and an eventual 6 per cent loss in the country’s GDP. 21 Indian cities, including New Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad, are likely to run out of groundwater by 2020. States ranked lowest at managing water – such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan and Haryana … Continue reading India on brink of worst-ever water crisis – an annotated infographic

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Europe’s electric bus fleets set to triple in size by 2025 – an annotated infographic

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The total number of electric buses in service is forecast to more than triple, from 386,000 in 2017 to about 1.2 million in 2025, equal to about 47 per cent of the global city bus fleet, according to a report from Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF). E-buses remain more expensive upfront than those fuelled by diesel, but BNEF found that battery-powered buses can already offer a lower total cost of ownership when fuel and maintenance expenses are factored in. A typical e-bus with a 250kWh battery charging once per day at the depot and operating around 166km/per day has a … Continue reading Europe’s electric bus fleets set to triple in size by 2025 – an annotated infographic

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#Apple boasts resilient #iPhone sales, despite lacklustre #iPhoneX results – an annotated infographic

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Hey, it turns out that Apple isn’t going to be strapped for cash after all. That’s a relief, eh? Technology giant Apple reported its best-ever fiscal second-quarter sales, despite fears that demand for its iPhone X – with a selling price starting at $999 – had begun to cool. Sales of 52.22 million iPhones were up from 50.76 million last year — a 2.9 per cent increase — confounding rumours suggesting demand for its iPhone X was in decline. Average selling prices for iPhones were $728, compared with $655 a year ago – an increase of more than 11 per … Continue reading #Apple boasts resilient #iPhone sales, despite lacklustre #iPhoneX results – an annotated infographic